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Pilot of small aircraft on low altitude inspection of private airport turns into a canyon area and encounters downdrafts. He is unable to maintain altitude and lands in the canyon.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 396663 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199803 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : o26 |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 100 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : edw |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 2 flight time total : 185 flight time type : 144 |
| ASRS Report | 396663 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable other |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
After low altitude overflt of private airfield at 250 degrees magnetic to inspect condition of airfield, I turned crosswind 160 degrees magnetic into a canyon with a very high ridge of mountains, to my starboard side. At this point with plane at full power, I began to loose altitude due to what I believe was a downdraft off the ridge. Losing airspace, altitude and airspeed, I was forced to land the plane in the canyon on the eastern hillside to prevent a stall and possible crash. To prevent this from recurring, I would overfly at a higher altitude and airspeed and increase my distance from the mountainsides and ridges. There were no injuries. Aircraft damage was broken nose gear and possible engine damage due to propeller hitting ground.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF SMA ON LOW ALT INSPECTION OF PVT ARPT TURNS INTO A CANYON AREA AND ENCOUNTERS DOWNDRAFTS. HE IS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT AND LANDS IN THE CANYON.
Narrative: AFTER LOW ALT OVERFLT OF PVT AIRFIELD AT 250 DEGS MAGNETIC TO INSPECT CONDITION OF AIRFIELD, I TURNED XWIND 160 DEGS MAGNETIC INTO A CANYON WITH A VERY HIGH RIDGE OF MOUNTAINS, TO MY STARBOARD SIDE. AT THIS POINT WITH PLANE AT FULL PWR, I BEGAN TO LOOSE ALT DUE TO WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A DOWNDRAFT OFF THE RIDGE. LOSING AIRSPACE, ALT AND AIRSPD, I WAS FORCED TO LAND THE PLANE IN THE CANYON ON THE EASTERN HILLSIDE TO PREVENT A STALL AND POSSIBLE CRASH. TO PREVENT THIS FROM RECURRING, I WOULD OVERFLY AT A HIGHER ALT AND AIRSPD AND INCREASE MY DISTANCE FROM THE MOUNTAINSIDES AND RIDGES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ACFT DAMAGE WAS BROKEN NOSE GEAR AND POSSIBLE ENG DAMAGE DUE TO PROP HITTING GND.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.